Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Royal Oak, MI Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Royal Oak, MI

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,646 in Austin, TX versus $2,712 in Royal Oak, MI.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,220 in Austin, TX versus $4,093 in Royal Oak, MI.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,794 in Austin, TX versus $5,475 in Royal Oak, MI.

Living in Austin, TX costs roughly 2% less than in Royal Oak, MI, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 92% above, Royal Oak, MI 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$19.88 $19.88

$17.67 $17.67

12.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$84.0 $84.0

$64.1 $64.1

31.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.27 $12.27

$12.31 $12.31

-0.32%

Cappuccino

$5.63 $5.63

$5.74 $5.74

-1.92%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$2.65 $2.65

35.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 $2.38

$1.97 $1.97

20.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.83 $7.83

$5.90 $5.90

32.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.10 $9.10

$8.08 $8.08

12.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 $1.14

$1.05 $1.05

8.57%

White Bread (500g)

$3.64 $3.64

$3.35 $3.35

8.66%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.31 $3.31

$5.44 $5.44

-39.15%

Eggs

$4.44 $4.44

$3.80 $3.80

16.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 $13.01

$13.75 $13.75

-5.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.69 $14.69

$11.52 $11.52

27.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$17.42 $17.42

$16.65 $16.65

4.62%

Apples (1kg)

$4.61 $4.61

$5.12 $5.12

-9.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.51 $1.51

-3.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.76 $4.76

$3.66 $3.66

30.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.95 $4.95

$4.83 $4.83

2.48%

Potato (1kg)

$3.01 $3.01

$2.62 $2.62

14.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.74 $2.74

$3.62 $3.62

-24.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.95 $1.95

$2.26 $2.26

-13.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.20 $2.20

$2.09 $2.09

5.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.26 $9.26

$9.88 $9.88

-6.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.90 $14.90

$15.22 $15.22

-2.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 $2.87

$2.43 $2.43

18.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 $3.59

$3.50 $3.50

2.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.65 $1.65

$2.55 $2.55

-35.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.90 $41.90

$69.9 $69.9

-40.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.82 $2.82

$2.71 $2.71

4.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.59 $1.59

$1.57 $1.57

1.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$34.68 $34.68

$23.54 $23.54

47.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.04 $1.04

-8.65%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.7K $35.7K

$35.4K $35.4K

0.94%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.9K $26.9K

$25.5K $25.5K

5.48%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$229 $229

$214 $214

7.26%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$58.6 $58.6

$60.2 $60.2

-2.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.3 $69.3

$68.5 $68.5

1.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.8 $65.8

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.75 $14.75

Cinema Ticket

$13.86 $13.86

$12.13 $12.13

14.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$1,501 $1,501

$1,127 $1,127

33.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.9K $20.9K

$18.7K $18.7K

11.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 $53.7

$59.6 $59.6

-10.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.41 $44.41

$37.91 $37.91

17.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 $90.8

$97.1 $97.1

-6.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 $108

$120 $120

-9.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,931 $1,931

$1,506 $1,506

28.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 $1,265

$1,376 $1,376

-8.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,776 $3,776

$3,495 $3,495

8.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,595 $2,595

$2,721 $2,721

-4.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,340 $7,340

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,231 $3,231

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,039 $5,039

$5,865 $5,865

-14.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.44

5.94

8.42%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Austin, TX: September 5, 2026

Last update for Royal Oak, MI: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,931 in Austin, TX and $1,506 in Royal Oak, MI. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Royal Oak, MI pays 16% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $84.0 in Austin, TX vs $64.0 in Royal Oak, MI for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $419 vs $402 per month, with Royal Oak, MI cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Austin, TX vs Royal Oak, MI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Austin, TX wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Royal Oak, MI. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Austin, TX the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Royal Oak, MI. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,931 in Austin, TX versus $1,506 in Royal Oak, MI. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,646 per month in Austin, TX versus $2,712 in Royal Oak, MI – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Austin, TX runs roughly 67% less than in Royal Oak, MI. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Both cities are expensive relative to $2,000. Austin, TX is the more realistic option, but even there you'll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Royal Oak, MI are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Austin, TX gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Royal Oak, MI. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.